Los Angeles To Las Vegas Road Trip: Best Stops On Interstate 15

This road trip from Los Angeles to Las Vegas is full of fun stops! On this driving itinerary you’ll visit iconic landmarks, quirky attractions, weird art installations, nostalgic diners, and many other really cool places!

Interstate-15 is the quickest and easiest way to reach Las Vegas from L.A. by car. This freeway travels through the lonely Mojave Desert which is an other-worldly beautiful destination.

Each location mentioned below under the list of best places to stop between Los Angeles and Las Vegas has enough information and a little bit of backstory so you can decide for yourself if it’s worth stopping at. But if you ask me, they are all a must see!

How Long Do You Need For This Road Trip?

You’ll need a full day. This Los Angeles to Las Vegas road trip is a one day itinerary. To complete this road trip in one day you will need to get an early start and try not to spend more than one hour at each stop.

If you want to turn this driving itinerary into a two day road trip, the best place to break up the drive is in Barstow. Outside of Barstow acommodation is few and far between. Actually, it’s almost non-existent.

Some of the best hotels in Barstow include Home2 Suites by Hilton, TownePlace Suites by Marriott, and the Holiday Inn. There are quite a few budget options too. See all hotels in Barstow here.

Detours and Alternative Routes

If you have an extra day, you could add a side trip to Mojave Desert National Preserve or take a detour to Death Valley National Park. Keep in mind that both of these parks are large and I don’t recommend visiting them unless you have at least a full day to spare.

An alternative route to Las Vegas is via California’s Route 66. This driving itinerary traces original U.S. Route 66 from Santa Monica to Needles. From Needles you can take U.S. 95 north to Las Vegas. You can complete this road trip in one day or stay overnight in Needles or Laughlin. See the itinerary here.

Best Stops Between Los Angeles & Las Vegas

Stop 1: California Route 66 Museum

Welcome to Victorville. A surprisingly large city in the Mojave Desert that historic U.S. Route 66 runs through. This desert community was first settled in 1885 but wasn’t incorporated until 1962. The city’s population grew from 8,000 people at the time of incorporation to 121,000 by 2013.

In Victorville don’t miss the California Route 66 Museum. Inside the museum you will find all sorts of Route 66 exhibits and memoribilia documenting what life was like along the Mother Road. From vintage signs to neon lights, and even a 1917 Ford Model T Car, you’re guaranteed to walk away inspired by your visit!

The volunteer staff here are super friendly and have a wealth of knowledge on Route 66 and Victorville’s history so feel free to pick their brains.

Califoria Route 66 Museum is located on D Street. From Intertstate 15, take the D Street exit and head straight to Old Town.

Admission to the museum is free but donations are greatly appreciated! Since the museum is run entirely on donations your support will help to keep this place going. The museum is open from Thursday to Monday.

Stop 2: Elmer’s Bottle Tree Ranch

Elmer’s Bottle Tree Ranch is a quirky attraction on Route 66 in Oro Grande. This peculiar place encompasses hundreds of trees made from steel and glass bottles. It’s Americana at its finest!

The colorful steel and glass forest was created by Elmer Long who was an avid collector of bottles. He and his father amassed a large collection of glass bottles over many years. After his father passed away, Elmer decided he wanted to do something with their collection.

He bought the ranch in Oro Grande and began building his art installation. Never in a million years did he think it would one day attract visitors from around the world. Which it surely does now!

The unique destination is one of the coolest and most fun places to visit on this road trip so be sure not to miss it!

You’ll need to get off Interstate-15 and take an easy detour along a stretch of original U.S. Route 66. From Victorville it’s only a fifteen minute drive away. Spend 30 minutes or so at the Route 66 Museum and then head to Elmer’s Bottle Tree Ranch. Allocate an hour to your visit because there really is so much to see here!

Elmer’s Bottle Tree Ranch is open seven days a week from sunrise to sunset. Admission is free but donations are greatly appreciated.

Read: Visit Elmer’s Bottle Tree Ranch: A Glass Forest On Route 66 In The California Desert

Stop 3: Peggy Sue’s Diner

Peggy Sue’s Diner is a nostalgic diner that you should not miss. When you step through the diner’s giant jukebox-shaped entrance you’ll instantly be transported back to the 1950s.

Life size statues of 1950s-era icons like Elvis Presley and Betty Boop will greet you while classic rock n roll music by the likes of Buddy Holly and Frankie Avalon plays in the background.

On the menu are home-cooked meals like meatloaf and chicken fried steak, as well as typical diner style food such as burgers, fries, and milkshakes. Be sure to leave room for their famous home-made fruit pies.

Peggy Sue’s is located just off Interstate 15 on Yermo Road in Yermo. To get there take the exit for Ghost Town Road and follow the big signs. Don’t worry, the signs are hard to miss!

Stop 4: Calico Ghost Town

Yermo – 4 MILES

Calico Ghost Town is a former mining town that was founded in 1881 during the last silver strike in California. The mines here produced over twenty million dollars in silver ore making Calico the largest silver producer in California’s history!

But it all went south in the mid-1890s when silver lost its value causing miners to pack up their bags to find fortunes elsewhere.

Calico turned into a ghost town and remained an abandoned place, that is until Walter Knott, the owner of Knotts Berry Farm, purchased Calico in 1951 and brought the ghost town back to life by restoring several of the original buildings.

Today, Calico Ghost Town is a state historical landmark and a popular tourist destination. Visitors can pan for gold, take a self-guided tour of the Maggie Mine, and see exhibits that relate to the geology of the Calico Mountains. It’s a fun place to visit!

Set aside at least one hour for your visit. There are two restaurants here, and one of them, Lil’s Saloon, has surprisingly great pizza! Also, there is a campground if you’re looking for somewhere to camp overnight in the area.

Read: Calico Ghost Town Campground: Camp At An Abandoned Mining Town That Dates Back To 1881

Stop 5: Zzyzx Road

Whether you’ve driven Interstate 15 through the lonely Mojave Desert before or it’s your first time, you’ve likely seen or will see the middle-of-nowhere sign for Zzyzx Road on your drive to Las Vegas.

The bizarrely named street leads to a lush oasis that was once a health retreat during the 1940s to 1970s. This retreat has quite a shocking backstory which you can read about here. It involves a man who was a big time scammer and “super squatter” whom used homeless men from Skid Row to build his empire at the end of Zzyzx Road.

If you have time on your road trip from L.A. to Las Vegas (or vice versa), I highly recommend taking the exit for Zzyzx Road and visiting this strange but beautiful place.

From the exit, you will need to drive for four miles down Zzyzx Road. The road is mostly paved and runs along the edge of Soda Lake, a once massive ancient lake that has turned into a bright-white, dry lakebed.

There are a couple of turnouts you can stop at along the way to enjoy views of the vast salt flats. Keep an eye out for Bighorn sheep that roam in the foothills of the Soda Mountains located adjacent to Soda Lake.

At the end of the road is a large parking lot. From here you can walk along a gravel path that leads to a beautiful lake lined with palm trees. It is a very photogenic place so don’t forget to bring your camera!

Read: Zzyzx Road: Discover A Lush Oasis in the Mojave Desert on Your Way To Las Vegas

Stop 6: World’s Tallest Thermometer

The World’s Tallest Thermometer is a landmark in Baker, California. Towering 134-feet above the Mojave Desert, this marvelous monument can be seen from miles and miles away by motorists driving between Los Angeles and Las Vegas.

It is situated adjacent to Intersate-15 and while you can see it from the freeway, it looks way more impressive when you’re standing beside it. So be sure not to miss the Baker exit!

This is truly one of the quirkiest roadside attractions in America, and on top of that, it has quite an interesting backstory. The marvelous monument was built by Willis Herron, a man that grew up in the same town and at the same time as Colonel Sanders. Yes, I’m talking about the same Colonel Sanders who invented Kentucky Fried Chicken!

Willis Herron moved to Baker and opened up a restaurant named Bun Boy, but when his restaurant burnt down in 1990, he wanted something that would draw even more attention than KFC’s revolving bucket — the World’s Tallest Thermometer!

Herron wasn’t cuckoo though; there was method in his madness. You see, the highest official temperature ever recorded was 134 degrees, which happened in Death Valley. And since Baker was the “Gateway To Death Valley”, it was only natural that the thermometer should stand 134-feet tall so it could record that high temperature should it ever occur again.

So in 1991, the colossal thermometer was built! Don’t miss the opportunity to have your photo taken with the impressive structure on your way to Vegas. Afterwards you can have a quick peek inside the gift shop where you’ll find all sorts of thermometer-related souvenirs.

Read: World’s Tallest Thermometer: The Story Behind Interstate-15’s Iconic Roadside Attraction

Stop 7: Pioneer Saloon

Pioneer Saloon in Goodsprings, Nevada, was built in 1913 and is the oldest bar in southern Nevada. This wild west saloon is about as authentic as it gets!

The interior and exterior walls are made of original stamped tin, and thought to be one of the last of its kind in the United States. Inside the saloon is a solid cherrywood bar that was manufactured in the 1860s, as well as dining tables that have been around since the saloon’s opening day.

There is also a mini-museum full of antiques and newspaper clippings about the tragic connection the saloon has to famous Hollywood film stars Clark Gable and Carole Lombard.

As you’ve just read, this place has a fascinating history that in my opinion, is worth the short detour off Interstate-15. In addition, you can tick visiting a ghost town in Nevada off your bucket list! Yes, Goodsprings is considered a ghost town even though the former mining town is still home to 200 residents.

The saloon does have a restaurant and it’s open seven days a week from 9am to 9pm. Breakfast is served until noon so if you’re starting your road trip in Las Vegas you can swing by to fuel up for the drive to Los Angeles. See their menu here.

Even if you don’t drink, and have eaten elsewhere already on your road trip, the Pioneer Saloon is still worth the trip out to see the historic building and to wander around the ghost town.

No purchase is necessary to visit the saloon and families are welcome! Just keep in mind that anyone under the age of 21 will not be allowed in the saloon itself, only in the dining area.

How to get to Pioneer Saloon: Pioneer Saloon is 25 miles from the south end of Las Vegas. From Interstate-15, take the exit at Jean for Goodsprings Road and drive for about five minutes. The Pioneer Saloon and Goodsprings General Store will be on your right side when you arrive in Goodsprings.

Stop 8: Seven Magic Mountains

The Seven Magic Mountains is one of the most popular attractions to visit on a road trip between L.A. and Las Vegas.

This art installation consists of seven giant, neon-colored boulders that have been stacked on top of each other. These neon rocks stand more than three stories high and are certainly a magnificent sight to see. Especially up against the barren desert landscape.

The brightly-colored art installation is located just twenty minutes south of the Las Vegas Strip.

To get there coming from Los Angeles, take the exit for Jean (exit 12) and turn right on NV-161. Then turn left on Sth Las Vegas Boulevard. Drive for five miles, the art installation will be on your right.

Coming from Las Vegas, take the exit for Sloan (exit 25) and turn left on Sloan Road. Then turn right on Sth Las Vegas Boulevard. Drive for seven miles and the art installation will be on your left.

Read: Seven Magic Mountains: What Do They Mean?

Stop 9: Las Vegas

The final stop on your road trip is Las Vegas. However your adventure is only just beginning because Las Vegas has TONS of things to do, even for the non-gambler!

While this desert metropolis has more casinos than anywhere else in the world, there is also a copius amount of attractions and entertainment options here that will delight almost every type of traveler.

Not only that, but there are also plenty of natural attractions, national parks, and other amazing places to see nearby. Hoover Dam, Red Rock Canyon, the Valley Of Fire, and Death Valley National Park are all easy to visit on a day trip from Las Vegas.

If it’s your first time visiting Las Vegas, cruising the strip is a must! Don’t miss seeing the Fountains of Bellagio or the Venice Canals at the Venetian Resort. Other popular things to do include riding an elevator to the top of the Eiffel Tower and taking a spin on The Linq’s High Roller.

But there are so many other exciting experiences to have here, even if it’s your fifth time visiting “The Entertainment Capital of the World”.

HOTELS IN LAS VEGAS

The hotels in Las Vegas are some of the most impressive in the world! From lavish five star properties to hotels that have been built to replicate the pyramids of Egypt and the Eiffel Tower in France, you will for sure have a hard time deciding between the many great lodging options in Sin City. Here’s a quick guide to some of the best hotels in Las Vegas.

Recommended Hotels:

• Lavish: Fontainebleau Las Vegas
• Quirky: New York New York Hotel & Casino
• Convenient Location: The Bellagio
• Budget Travellers: Circus Circus and The Linq Hotel

Search for more hotels using the interactive map below.

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